James simpson bartley



J. SQBARTLEY. CAR COUPLING (No Model.)

Patented Nov. 23, I897.

llllllllllillll INVENTOH llllIlllHlllll WITNESSES A TTOHNE Y S.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES SIMPSON BARTLEY, OF WHITESVILLE, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,315, dated November23, 1897. Application filed June 23,1397. salami. 641,916. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SIMPSON BART- LEY, of Whitesville, in thecounty of Harris and State of Georgia, have invented a new and ImprovedOar-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to car-couplings of the gravity pin-and-linktype, and has for its object to provide a car-coupling of the typementioned which will be adapted for an automatic coupled engagement withanother coupling of the indicated class and also be adapted for releasein a safe manner either from the side or roof of the car whereon thecoupling is placed.

A further object is to provide the car-coupling with a spring-cushionedcoupling-box at the front end of the draw-head, said box being dividedinto a plurality of link-receiving compartments, the coaction of thecouplingbox, draw-head body, and vertically-adjustable coupling-pin thatpasses through said parts being adapted to hold the coupling-link atdifferent heights and angular adjustment for engagement with anothercoupling on a car and that may be above or below the coupling carryingthe link for engagement therewith.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side View in part of two cars having the improvedcar-couplings thereon in coupled condition. Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional side View of the improved car-coupling. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the forward portion of the coupling. Fig. 4 is a plan view of thelink preferably used with the coupling. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan viewof the forward portion of the coupling, substantially on the line 5 5 ofFig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of the coupling andcoupling-link secured to the coupling by a vertical pin; and Fig. 7 isan end View in part of a car-body and the car-coupling thereon, showingthe coupling-pin elevated by adjustment of the link-releasing device onthe car-body.

In the drawings that show the improved car-coupling and its application,10 indicates the coupling draw-bar, which is secured in position forservice by any preferred means near the transverse center of a car-bodyA and partially projected in advance of the same, as shown in Fig. 1.

The draw-bar 1 0 may be formed integrally with the draw-head body 11,or, as shown in Fig. 2, these parts may be produced separately and besecured together by bolts a.

To facilitate the connection of a detail of the car-coupling with thedraw-head 11, said body is recessed from the front end, thus providing aforwardly-open chamber b, which extends rearwardly a proper distance andis terminated by a transverse wall 0.

In the chamber 17 the coupling 12 is fitted to slide loosely, said boxcomprisinga fourwalled receptacle having its rear end closed by across-wall d, from which two spaced partition-walls e project forwardly,which walls may be formed integrally with the side walls and rear wallof the coupling-box and occupy parallel horizontal planes.

At the front of the coupling-box 12 a flaring throat is formed, whichfacilitates the free introduction of an elongated coupling-link intoeither of the threecompartments e that are afiorded by the provision ofthe partitionwalls e,

An encircling flange 12 is formed or secured upon the forward end of thecoupling-box, which flange projects rearwardly and is equally spacedfrom the four Walls of said box, so as to freely receive the forward endof the draw-head body 11 in the continuous channel formed between thecoupling-box body and annular flange 12, said flange affording a finishfor the front end of the carcoupling. 7 On the upper wall of thedrawhead body 11 a guide-box 11 is erected and is vertically andcentrally apertured for the free reception of the body of thecouplingpin 13.

The lower wall of the draw-head bodyis perforated, as at g, in alinementwith the vertical bore of the guide-box 11, so that the pin 13 may dropby its gravity through the drawhead, and to enable such an adjustment ofthe coupling-pin the partition-walls e are apertured, preferably, by theformation therein of elongated holes of considerable size, so as toreduce weight and yet afford ample strength.

A pin-receiving orifice g is formed in the upper and lower walls of thecoupling-box 12, these holes being in the same vertical plane and sopositioned transversely of the box that the coupling-pin 13 will fallfreely through the coupling-box when the latter is suitably adjusted inthe draw-head body. 7

Between the coupling-box 12 and the transverse wall 0 in the draw-headbody 11 one or more coiled springs 14 are located. Preferably two suchsprings are provided, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6.

The ends of the springs 14 are firmly held in sockets formed to receivethem in the crosswall d and transverse wall 0, and said springs thusloosely secure the coupling-box within the draw-head.

Such relative length is given the springs 14 that when not compressedthey will project the coupling-box forwardly on the draw-head body 11,so as to remove the perforations g from alinement with the bore of theguide-box 11*, as shown in Fig. 2.

The forward adjustment of the box 12 permits the coupling-pin 13 to restupon the top wall of said coupling-box immediately rearward of thealined perforations g in the coup ling-box, so that said pin is thussupported in position to be dropped through the couplingbox anddraw-head body when the couplingbox is pushed rearwardly a distancesufficient to aline the perforations g with the bore of the guide-box11.

The coupling-link 15 is preferably shaped as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 andconsists of an oblong body formed of an endless metal bar, and at eachend said link is rounded, having the inner and outer edges thereofbeveled or rounded, as best shown in Fig. 6.

The width of the link-body 15 is proportioned so that it may freelyslide into either of the compartments e and rest upon one of thepartitions c or on the lower wall of the coupling-box, as may bedesired.

If the link 15 is forcibly inserted within the coupling-box 12, so as topress the latter rearwardly and compress the springs 14 until thecoupling-pin 13 drops down through the drawhead body and also throughthe coupling-box, a relaxation of such pressure on the end of thecoupling-link will allow the springs 14 to exert pressure on thecoupling-box and bind the link, so that it will be held projected fromthe coupling to engage with a like coupling.

It will be evident that the clamping of the inserted end of the link 15between the rear wall of the coupling-box 12 and the body of thecoupling-pin 13 will enable an angular adjustment of the link, so as toincline it up- To adapt the coupling-link 15 to receive a lateralswinging movement, which is essential when coupled cars are traversingcurves of a railroad, the side bars of the couplinglink are bentinwardly a proper degree, as shown in Fig. 4, these opposite bends fbeing near the longitudinal center of the link,which will give thenecessary lateral play for the link at the mouths of two coupling-boxesheld together by the link.

On the end wall of the car-bodyAthe rockshaft 16 is held to receiverocking movement in the boxes 72, or like means attached to the car-bodyA, said shaft having a lever 17 fixed upon each end, which levers areadjacent to the sides of the car-body and at such a height from theground that a trainman may readily operate either lever and rock theshaft to which they are affixed.

An arm 18 is projected from the shaft 16 in the same vertical plane withthe couplingpin 13 and is loosely connected with said pin, asrepresented in Figs. 1 and 7.

From the rock-arm 18 a flexible connection 19 may be upwardly extendedto the roof of the car-body A and held there by any suitable means, sothat draft upon the flexible connection by an operator on the car-roofwill elevate the coupling-pin 13 and release two coupled cars.

In like manner the manipulation of either lever 17 will lift thecoupling-pin 13 and detach a coupled link 15 in an obvious manner.

It will be apparent that the link 15 when held projected from onecoupling-box 12 will enter a like box on an approaching car-coupling,and if the pin 13 on the latter is in elevated adjustment, as beforedescribed, then the impinge of the entered end of the coupling-link uponthe rear wall of the couplingbox in which it enters will push the boxrearwardly against the stress of the springs 14 and drop thecoupling-pin through the drawhead, thereby effecting an automaticcoupled connection of the two couplings.

The improved car-coupling may be readily coupled to a commoncar-coupling or with any other car-coupling adapted to receive and holda coupling-link, this being a feature of advantage pertaining to theimprovement which will facilitate its general use on railroads disposedto adopt the improvement in a gradual way. Furthermore, this will allowcars having the improved car-coupling to be run on railroads using otherkinds of carcouplings with which the improved coupling must be at timescoupled.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent In a car-coupling, the combination with a chambereddraw-head having alined orifices through its top and bottom Walls, of acoupling-box, a flange extended rearward from the front end of thecoupling-box, there being a space between the box and said flange toreceive the end of the draw-head, horizontal partitions in thecoupling-box provided with elongated openings in line with openingsthrough the top and bottom Walls of the box,

and a spring for holding the box yieldingly 1o forward With its top andbottom openings out of line with the pin-openings of the drawhead,substantially as specified.

Witnesses:

A. F. TRUETT, W. M. PARKER.

